WHAT IS ON YOUR LIST?

The Christmas rush is behind us, and now preparations are underway for New Year’s celebrations. How will you celebrate the New Year?  I am so glad that New Year’s Day is on Sunday, and we can gather and start our year with our Lord in worship and prayer and teaching from God’s Word.

But where will your focus be?  Is it on the New Year’s resolutions you are going to make?  We all make those resolutions, but they only last a short time and life goes on, and the resolutions we tried so hard to keep go by the wayside.  As I think about 2011, I wonder where the year went, as time seems to go by so quickly.

Instead of those resolutions, which we never keep, let us take some time for reflection, and look back over the past year and see the path that we have trod.  Maybe you had times of great trial and pain.  Maybe you looked on the world scene and had moments of great fear.  But as we look back, as believers in Jesus, we can see “his footprints” over the year.  We can see those places where He carried us in times of great trial, when we could hardly carry on.  He carried us on days of darkness, on foggy days, when our way was not clear and our eyes foggy with tears.

And there were times of great joy and happiness.  You felt fulfilled in what God had called you to do, you prospered in your business.  Your family was blessed.  Maybe, as my husband and I did, you passed a great milestone in your marriage.

Now we face this New Year of 2012.  What does the future hold for each of us this year?  I know that some will go home to be with Jesus this year, and are you ready?  Jesus could call at any time, and I believe His coming back to earth could be at any time, but His Word says that we do not know the day nor the hour, but to “Watch.” What will the Lord do in our lives this year?  I would suggest instead of making a Spiritual Resolution List, make a list of the desires of your heart for this year.  The Word promises that He makes all things new.  So what new thing will He do in your life this year? “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:18-19.

As we head in this New Year, we are not to look back over the past and the hard places we have been, but to look ahead.  The Lord is going to do some new things in your life.  He may take you down paths that you cannot even imagine going.  It is going to come, and He calls you to watch and see what He is going to do.  What are the desires of your heart?  Do you desire to walk closer to Him this year, or spend more time in prayer and the Word.  Maybe He would call you to minister to others in a new way? “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also on the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” Psalm 37:3-5.

As you make your “Spiritual Resolution List”, the first thing would be to absolutely trust in the Lord no matter what this year brings, and He will satisfy with the good things He has promised.  And then to just delight in Him, spend time with Him, worship Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart, those spiritual things you long for, and maybe He will bless you with some material need that you have been praying for.  And then, commit your way, your walk to Him, and whatever you desire He will bring it to pass.  Praise the Lord!  And when you go through dry places this next year, He promises to make a way for you during those “wilderness times” and overflow you with His precious Holy Spirit. “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground” Isaiah 44:3a.

We go to the New Testament and the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13-14, and he challenges us to look ahead, forget those troublesome times behind us.  “Brethren, I count myself not to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

What are we reaching for, what is our goal as we press forward for the prize in Christ Jesus?  We have a promise of a future with the Lord Jesus.  The ultimate prize is our heavenly home, to finish the course He has set us on.   Can you affirm with Paul?  “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them who love His appearing” II Timothy 4:8.

So as we set out in this New Year of 2012, we are reaching for the ultimate goal, the prize of His heavenly calling.  We leave behind all of the struggles of last year, and reach forward this New Year with joy, walking with Jesus, looking for that day when we will have finished the course and won the Crown of Righteousness, awarded to His faithful ones, by the Lord Himself.   And we anxiously watch and wait for His appearing.

I ask again, are you ready?  Are you ready to face whatever lies ahead in this New Year?  If you don’t have Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please let Him come into your heart right now.  As I have said in a previous blog, “The Story Goes On.”  The Christmas story never ends, as that little baby came to save the lost.  His very name means “Savior.”  In His future was the cross looming ahead.  He died on that cross to save you, my friend.  He shed His precious blood for your sins.  Please don’t start this New Year without Him by your side.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I commit this year to you.  I commit all those who are reading this to You.  That many will make a Spiritual Resolution List, and know that You will grant them the desires of their heart and walk with them through this New Year.  And for those who have not accepted you, I ask for conviction of the Holy Spirit to draw them to Yourself and that they will enter this year as a “new creature in Christ Jesus.”  (II Corinthians 5:17.  Amen

 Happy New Year,

Pastor Sharon

HALLELUJAH!

 THE KING HAS COME!

 In this final week before Christmas, I am rejoicing in this beautiful season!  Yes, we see doom and gloom around and hear of sorrow and tears and there is fog and ice outside but there is great joy, the King has come!  Let us all raise our voices in praise to His holy name as we come together this weekend to honor Him.

I was reminded recently of a video I viewed on my computer.  In one of the big malls in New York, the people were crowded in long lines, rushing to and fro, packages under their arms, and some in a great hurry, and all of a sudden music filled the air, as a choir had formed in the upper level, and the choir started singing the Hallelujah Chorus!  People stopped and looked up, some with smiles on their faces.  In fact, the great crowd gathered there all stopped to listen and then many joined in song with the choir, raising great voices with “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [3x], for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [2x].”  I saw many in that crowd with hands raised in worship to the King of kings and Lord of lords! 

To me, with tears in my eyes, made me think of a taste of heaven will be like when all of God’s people, from all ages join in one great chorus of Hallelujahs to our King!  There won’t be any more rushing around.  We won’t ever have to leave His glorious presence.  Those wonderful  “ God Moments” will last forever!  And then there are those wonderful carols we sing in honor of His birth, and many also speak of that future day when He reigns forever and ever.  Next time He comes He won’t come as a little baby, but as our Conquering King!  Praise the Lord!

 GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN REJOICE

Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Give ye heed to what we say:  Jesus Christ is born today.  Men and beast before Him bow and He is in the manger now:  Jesus Christ is born today, Christ is born today.

Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Now ye hear of endless bliss:  Jesus Christ was born for this.  He hath opened heaven’s door, and man is blessed forevermore.  Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice!  Now ye need not fear the grave:  Jesus Christ was born to save; calls you one, and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.  Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save!  (Latin, 14^th century, 14^th century German melody)

Yes, men and women of God rejoice!  As we gather on Christmas Eve, many churches have candlelight services, and then as we gather on Sunday morning this year, let us rejoice with all our heart and soul.  Just as Shepherds and the Wisemen bowed before Him, let us come before Him with Praise and worship in our hearts!  As we come with the excitement of Christmas Day, let that excitement bring us into the presence of our Wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  The King has come!  And because He came and dwelt among us, we are indeed blessed forever. And through His death and resurrection, Heaven’s gates are now open to all who will call upon His Name.  This was why God sent His beloved Son, to call many sons to glory.

Because Jesus was born to save, we don’t have to fear the grave, He has conquered death.  And in death, we go instantly into His presence. (II Corinthians 5:8)  And as we head into this week, with all those last minute preparations, let us be reminded that the Light has come!  And we can join in chorus with the angels, singing Hallelujah!   He calls each one of us to be reminded that Christ came to save, and soon we will witness His second advent to this earth.  Ask yourself this minute, am I ready?  Search your heart and be ready when the trumpet of God will sound, and our Conquering King descends in the clouds of heaven.

“And now brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.  I can tell you this directly from the Lord:  We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves.  For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.  First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.  So comfort and encourage each other with these words”  I Thessalonians 4:13-18. (NLT)

I want to encourage you, my friends, as we prepare for Christmas this weekend, make sure you are ready for that great day.  We don’t know the day nor the hour, but our Lord tells us to “Watch” and be ready!  Do you know Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord?  Pray right now and ask Him to come in and it will be the most wonderful Christmas you have ever experienced!  You will have peace and joy, and no matter what storms my lie ahead this coming year, you will have Jesus by your side always.

“Father, I pray for those out there who are reading this blog right now.  There are many who are lost without Jesus, many who are away from the fold of God.  There are many who are grieving a first Christmas without a beloved son, daughter, spouse or mom or dad.  I pray for many to come to Jesus right now.  I pray for your comfort to reach down to those who grieve.  I ask for peace, Your peace to come to those who are going through other great trials.  I pray for a great harvest of precious souls this Christmas season, and that is why you came, Lord Jesus.  And we thank and give you praise, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.”

Blessings,

Pastor Sharon

IT’S CHRISTMAS,

WHERE CAN WE HIDE?

Here we are in the third week of December, and it is so cold and dreary as we draw closer to Winter, and the celebration of the birth of our Wonderful Lord!  It seems that the whole world outside my window is frozen, and we wonder if Springtime will come again, and we long for those balmy days again.

The stores are busy, lines are long, traffic is heavy, and people may find themselves lost in the crowd at this time of the year.  And with all the business of this season, sometimes we wonder if we can just hide out until the season is over.  Our lists are so long, and so much to accomplish as the “big” day draws near.  And as I look at the people in stores, in lines, and recently in the emergency room of a local hospital, as my husband had taken a tumble and needed some stitches, I see pain and discouragement.  And I wonder as I see new people enter the emergency room, just what is on their hearts, what is their struggle?  What is their pain?  And much of people’s pain is not just physical, but emotional.  Many are in depression and fear of the unknown.

But, Praise the Lord, because of that baby in the manger, there with His mother, Mary and Joseph, we have hope.  That baby was God’s Son sent to this earth to redeem mankind from the sin of this dark world and bring salvation and eternal life to all who would call upon His Name.  And I wonder about the crowds and how many really know that the Savior has come!  Oh, I know there are many believers in those crowds.  Many people are rejoicing in their salvation and the glory of this season, and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As I look about me and see the sad faces of some, and know that some may be laughing and celebrating on the outside but are crying on the inside.  But our God knows their tears, and hears their cry!  Read the words of David in the book of Psalms, as his heart was crying out to His God in a time of great trouble. “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in your Tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” Psalm 61:1-4.

In this busy season of hustle and bustle, of dreary weather, of all the commercialism of this season, when it seems that the Christ of Christmas has been forgotten and deliberately left out of the celebration, there is a call that goes forth from God’s Word.  To stop and listen, listen to your heart, what you are feeling at this time.  Maybe it is loneliness, or helplessness, you have lost your joy, your hope.  Maybe you are empty inside because you have never known the joy of Jesus as your own personal Savior.  You can call out to Him right now, where you are, ask Him to hear your cry and please listen to your prayer.  And notice that David was crying out to His God, He was desperate!  Are you desperate enough right now, my friends, to literally cry out to God in the midst of your despair?

David said that no matter where he was on this earth, he could cry out to his God.  And no matter where you are, my friends, He is always attuned to your cry.  You could be on the other wide of the world, you could be on a mountain top, you could be in a valley, anywhere, and He hears even the faintest of cries.  Isn’t that wonderful?  What a Mighty God we serve!

When you are totally overwhelmed with your struggles and pain, and many people at this time are simply overwhelmed by the season.  It comes so quickly, and there is so much anticipation, and then it is all over, and the New Year is upon us, and we still feel overwhelmed, still feel empty on the inside.  But David says “to lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”  And who is that Rock?

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. . . For who is God, except the LORD, and who is a rock, except our God? . . . “The LORD liveth and blessed be my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation” 2 Samuel 2, 32, 47.

In I Corinthians 10:4, the Apostle Paul stated that the “Rock” that followed the Children of Israel was Christ Himself.  So the Rock that is higher than I, the Rock that is higher than all our grieve and sorrow, the Rock that is higher than depression, fear and loneliness, and all that brings all the despair into our lives is Jesus Christ, our Lord!  And He alone is our shelter in these troubled times. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” Proverbs 18:10.

And in His Name we can hide and He is our strength.  He is like a mighty tower to hide in.  And what is His Name?  “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”  Isaiah 9:6.  We can run to our Wonderful Lord, He is our Counselor in times of deep distress, He the Mighty God of this universe, He is our Everlasting Father, for now and forever, and He is the only one that can bring peace to this world, He is our Prince of Peace!  

And David says that he will “trust in the shelter of Your wings.”  He uses that phrase in many of the Psalms.  It is a beautiful picture of our Lord, hiding us under His wings, hovering over us like a mother hen hides her chickens.  He will cover us and shelter us from the storm that is blowing around us.

So, my friends, as this holiday season rushes on toward the New Year, take comfort in our Wonderful Lord.  He can bring such peace and comfort in a world that sometimes seems like it has gone mad.  He is our shelter, our Rock, and we can hide in Him.  So take comfort in God’s Word, and the hope that He brings us.  The world will not bring peace. All the hoopla of this season will not bring peace.  Peace is only found under the shelter of His Wings.  Let Him cover you and comfort you right now, in the Name of Jesus.

I leave you this week with this blessing:  “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.  The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” Numbers 6:14-26”

Pastor Sharon

BLACK FRIDAY

AND FOGGY DAYS

This last weekend the nation experienced what they call “Black Friday.”  There were crowds everywhere, long lines and people pushing and shoving to get the best gift for loved ones.

And then I think of the fog that rolled in our valley this morning.  As we drove, the cars ahead were just pinpricks of light in the murky darkness.   But later in the day the sun did shine again and drove away the darkness.

As I ponder on these things today, I think of the world, our nation, our town and people rushing madly about, lost in the darkness of this world and in the fog of despair, hopelessness, fear, anxiety and not knowing what tomorrow will bring.  And for many of these people every day is “black.”  There is not a ray of light in their darkness, and many rushing about in this Christmas season don’t even realize that Jesus has come, and that He is their only hope and salvation.  Oh, they may hear the carols sung, even may attend church at Christmas, but their hearts are blinded to the truth of Christ’s first Advent, and not aware that we are standing on the brink of His Second Advent.

But listen, my friends, as you rush madly through this season, stop for a moment and know that the “Light” has come!  That baby in the nativity scenes that you see, and I see many such scenes in the Christmas decoration section of the shops.  That baby was God’s Light sent into a dark world full of sin and despair.  This “Light,” the Lord Jesus came to set the captives free, to bring light into our darkest of days, whether it is Friday, Tuesday, or Thursday or whatever day it may be.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people, but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you” Isaiah 60:1-2”

As we look at this verse, it speaks to all of us in our darkest of days, days lost in sin, days of pain, sorrow and fear and our guilt, and in all our struggles.   The Word says your “Light has come!”

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” John 8:12.

He tells us to arise up and behold the glory of the LORD!  See that baby in the manger, the LORD has come!  Listen to the carols as they proclaim His birth, feel the joy of His coming and know He came to save you and me and anyone who will call on His name.  As Mary held that precious baby and looked into His face, how could she know that someday, that precious Son, would die on a cross for a lost and dying world?

 He was literally born to die on that cross, to save a dark world and bring many into His Kingdom of Light, our Heavenly home.  He came that men would serve Him here, proclaim the Gospel of Salvation to a dying world.  Oh, that men would praise the Lord and worship Him!

Yes, darkness covers the earth, and its people are in deep darkness of sin and despair.  We see the darkness as we watch the news and we see violence everywhere.  It seems that evil prevails, but “The Hope of nations has come, and the Lord will arise in all His glory!  Praise the Lord!

As I look out my window at this moment, the day is foggy and very cold.  It is dark outside, even at this afternoon hour.  And I think of those who are walking each day in their lives in the fog of their grief and sorrow.  It seems that the fog comes during this season of the year, which only adds to the sorrow of some out there.  Maybe this past year you lost a dear loved one, a spouse maybe.  And your eyes are foggy with tears, your days are dark with sorrow.  Christmas can be the hardest time of the year for some, as there are so many memories.  There are memories of past holiday seasons with loved ones around the table, and joy in the home.  Oh, so many memories! 

But look there ahead in the fog.  See that pinprick of light?  There is Jesus coming to you in the midst of your “fog” to bring you comfort and peace.  Oh, He brings such joy!  Run to Him and let Him bring His light to your foggy day.  Give Him your sorrow and your pain, and you will feel the fog lift and the sun will shine again!

Oh, we all will have our “Black Fridays” and “Foggy” days, but Praise the Lord, we have hope in this world and in this beautiful season.  This season is all about Him, all about His coming, all about His coming again.  And we believe that His coming is very soon, so we must be ready to meet Him at any moment.  Are you ready?  Have you knelt at the Cross of Christ and asked Him to forgive your sins?  He is waiting for You to come.  Give Him your dark days and let Him bring His light into your heart.  May Jesus Christ be praised!

Have a Blessed Season,

Pastor Sharon

THERE’S EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR!

It’s Christmas time once again!  The bells are ringing, the choirs are singing, the world is proclaiming in the beautiful carols that Christ has come.  There is excitement in the air!

There is joy in our hearts as we put up our beautiful trees, and all the lovely colors speak of the majesty and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Red stands for Christ’s blood shed for our sins.  Green stands for the fact that we have eternal life in Christ.  White stands for the purity of Christ, and the gold stands for the kingship and royalty of Jesus Christ.  So when you put up your tree and hang your decorations, be reminded as a Christian, what these colors mean to you and your relationship with your Wonderful Lord!

Then there are gifts to buy and send, always remembering that Christmas is not about all the gifts we receive and send but it is about God’s perfect gift, Jesus Christ.  There are goodies to bake to bless our families, friends and loved ones.  There is excitement in the air!  Christ has come!

And then I think of another day, another time when there was excitement in the air, a certain feeling that Someone was about to come on the scene.  And that Someone was prophesied to come in God’s Holy Word hundreds of years ago.  We go back to the time just before Jesus came, and think about the times in which the people in Israel lived.  They were cruelly oppressed by Rome.  There had been no message from God in 400 years!  Surely this must be the time when He will come?  I am sure shepherds sat around their campfires wondering when Messiah would come and bring peace to their world.  There was excitement in the air!

It was time for God to fulfill all the promises of Messiah.  For down through the years of history, God’s prophets had foretold that He would come. Many in that day were looking at the prophecies and wondering if this was the day and the time.  And indeed it was the time for His first advent, His first coming.  Let’s look at some of those prophecies in God’s Word.

God’s prophets also foretold of a coming Ruler, a Prince, a King who would rule forever and bring peace to a troubled world.  And we also are living in a troubled world, my friend, just as Israel was living in troubled times.  Among God’s people today, there is again excitement in the air.  Our King is coming! 

“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”  Micah 5:2.

The Prophet Micah foretold exactly where He was to be born, in Bethlehem.  And we all know the Christmas story in Matthew 2:6, and Luke 2:1-6.  He was born in Bethlehem exactly as the prophet foretold.  But Micah also prophesied that out of Bethlehem would come a Ruler who was from everlasting.  This Ruler had no beginning, He was before time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God” John 1:1-2.

This little baby, who was born in Bethlehem, as the prophet foretold, was God in the flesh, coming to be the Ruler for all time.  He came to rule in the hearts of men who would accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  This little baby came to die for your sins and for mine.  And when He came there was truly excitement in the air!  The King had come!

“Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel” Isaiah 7:11. And in Matthew 1:22-23, an Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling Him to call the child “Emmanuel” just as the prophet had foretold.

 EMMANUEL

“God With Us”

“Emmanuel, I praise You for your faithful love.  Instead of casting me away from Your presence, You came to call me home.  Instead of punishing me for my sins, You came to free me from them,  Emmanuel, my God.   You are here with me today.  Live in me and glorify Your name, I pray.  Emmanuel continues to be with me in song and in His presence and in those special moments with Him. I would see a dramatic change in ministry and circumstances if I totally depended on the fact that God is with me, morning and evening.  This title reveals Jesus’ nature to “never leave me or forsake me”  Hebrews 13:5b. (Sharon Besler, 2007).

Emmanuel, “God with Us”, what a wonderful promise!  Yes, He sent His only beloved Son to dwell among us, to feel our pain and our sufferings.  And He does feel your pain and suffering, my friend.  He came as that little baby in Bethlehem, to grow into a man, live on this earth for three years and then to die on that cross, shed His blood for my sins, for your sins.  And He is still with us today, living in the hearts of His people, by the Holy Spirit.

Oh, the world will not see Him, will not feel that excitement.  But we feel that joy and anticipation as we look at His first advent.  At this time we celebrate His first advent, but there is another advent coming.  The second advent of our Lord and Savior will break the skies, as He will not come as a meek and humble baby in a manger, but will come as King of kings and Lord of lords!  And He will reign forever and forever!  This King “whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting” will reign at last.

So there is excitement in the air!  We will remember this season of joy His first advent and celebrate with scenes of that baby in the manger, Emmanuel, God with us.  He is desires to be Emmanuel to you, my friend?  He so wants to be with you, to be your Lord and Savior.  This could be the most wonderful Christmas you have ever celebrated by asking Him to come into your heart, and then you would be ready for His second advent, when He comes again.  Make that choice, my friends, and feel the excitement in the air! The King has come!

Have a Blessed Christmas Season,

Pastor Sharon

ALL THANKS BE TO GOD

As we enter this Thanksgiving week, I am reminded again of all God’s blessings, to me and to all my brothers and sisters in the Lord out there.  May God encourage your heart this week as you remember how much He has done for you, and His great love.

And if you do not know Jesus as your own personal Savior, may this be the week that you ask Him to come into your life.  It is the most important decision you will ever make, as it counts for eternity and forever.  And when our Blessed Lord comes into your life, you will never be the same, as He brings such joy and peace, no matter what the difficulties you face.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new  creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”  2 Corinthians 5:17.”

I recently came across this old hymn, which speaks of our journey as we walk with the Lord.  It speaks of our great salvation, the struggles we go through, His blessings, and right into eternity with Him.

THANKS BE TO GOD

Thanks be to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary  fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

 Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

 Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for the thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks thro’ all eternity!

 J.A. Hultman

So as we sit down with our loved ones this week around a loaded table, may it not be just a time of our annual feast, but a time of much reflection.  Let us bow our hearts in grateful thanks first of all for our Blessed Redeemer, and thank our Father for sending us His Son, Jesus, our Lord.  Our Blessed Redeemer has promised to provide, and to always walk with us and never to leave our side.  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself as said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5.

We thank Him for the prayers He has answered, and the storms we have walked through, and for all the needs He has supplied.  Yes, we all have been through pain, walked in the valleys of despair, but then He leads us upon the mountaintops of comfort and joy.

And we thank Him for the grace without measure, and none of us can comprehend the absolute love that He has for us.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.  Now that, my friend, is the ultimate love!

As we journey in this life, there will be paths of “roses.”  It is in those times that everything is going well, there is a sweet fragrance to our lives, but the “thorns” come, and prick our hearts.  Those “thorns” could be deep sorrow and pain, grief and despair, sickness and pain.  But He is there, and He is the only one who can bring us hope and comfort in this midst of our darkness.

We thank Him that we have our home and our families around us.  Think of those this day who are alone, poor and needy in this world, and how blessed we are here in this country with our bountiful  tables and the storehouse of wealth that He has provided.  May we never take these blessings for granted.

We thank Him for the peace He gives, and that we have hope in all our tomorrows.  We, as believers have what the Word calls, “Our Blessed Hope.” (Titus 2:13).  We look forward to eternity with our Lord, our Heavenly Home.  We look forward to seeing Him face to face, and no more pain and sorrow, tears or parting.  I pray that this Thanksgiving will be one of blessing and remembrance, and more than that, the salvation of many out there who need to find their way to Jesus, by the way of the cross and hope for eternity forever.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving,

Pastor Sharon

“HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY”

As I look around me, at the world, my city, my nation, there is such sorrow and woe.  We hear of suicides, men taking their own lives, as they perceive they have no hope.  We hear of cancer and great sorrow in peoples’ lives.  People are despondent, lost and alone.  My heart breaks for the “lost” of this world.  I want to tell the world about the “Altogether Lovely One.”

“His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely.  This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” Song of Solomon 5:16.

Our Lord Jesus, the “Altogether Lovely One” stands at the crossroads of our lives, calling, pleading for a lost world.  He is calling for you, my dear friends.  This “Lovely One” is the one who bore all our sorrows on the cruel cross of Calvary, shed His precious blood for my sins, for your sins.  He is Glorious in His resurrection and sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, praying and interceding for a lost world, a world He came to save.  Listen to the words of Charles Spurgeon as he wrote of this “Altogether Lovely One.”

f we had time to think over this subject, we should say of our Lord that He is lovely in every office.  He is the most admirable Priest, and King, and Prophet that ever yet exercised the office.  He is a lovely Shepherd of a chosen flock, a lovely Friend, lovely Husband, a lovely Brother:  He is admirable in every position that He occupies for our sakes.

Our Lord’s loveliness appears in every condition:  in the manger, or in the temple; by the well, or on the sea; in the garden, or on the cross; in the tomb, or in the resurrection; in His first, or in His second coming.  He is not as the herb which flowers only at one season; or as the tree, which loses its leaves in winter; or as the moon, which waxes and wanes; or as the sea, which ebbs and flows.  In every condition, and at every time,” He is altogether lovely.”  (Charles F. Spurgeon)

He was there before the world was created.  This “Altogether Lovely One” was there at the beginning of time.  He is the great I AM of the burning bush in Exodus 3.  He is “The Word” in John 1:1-5.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him noting was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

He came to this earth, shining in the darkness, and the world did not understand or accept His light.  And He shines in your darkest hours, my friend.  He is there in the midst of your storm, walking on the water.  This “Altogether Lovely One” is there in the midst of your sin and sorrow and your lost hope.  He shines through the darkest of nights, when it seems that all is lost.

“The LORD is high above all the nations, His glory above the heavens.  Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?  He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes –with the princes of His people”  Psalm 113:4-8.

This “Altogether Lovely One” is higher than all the nations and their plans, and His glory shines even beyond the heavens.  But our Lord humbles Himself to see all that is going on in the heavens and the earth.  In other words, He is very much aware of the struggles that you are going through, as He is aware of the hearts of men.  And He longs to lift you up, even if you feel that you are in an “ash heap.”  Even if you feel you are the lowest of the low.  He wants to lift you up right now, at this moment.  He wants to seat you with Him in heavenly places, as the Apostle Paul shares in Ephesians  1:3.

And this “Altogether Lovely One” is our soon coming King.  And He will come in all His glory and beauty to gather His loved ones home.  Our minds cannot comprehend the glory of this King until we see His lovely face in all its beauty.  Will you be ready?  He could come at any time.  And He is not willing that any would perish or miss His coming.  His Word also says He is coming as a thief in the night,

1 Thessalonians  5:1-3: “ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.

Please don’t miss Him.  We live in that time, my friend, when the world is looking for peace.  We hear it in the news constantly.  So, again I plead with you out there.  Be ready, for we do not know when our Lord is coming, but He tells us to watch and wait.  Right now is the time for salvation.  Just call upon Him, my friends.  He will come into your heart and bring you peace and hope and joy, and faith in knowing that when He does come you will go to be with Him.  And we do not know what a day will bring.  Are you ready for eternity?  Don’t put off the most important decision of your life.  Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.  Please be ready and don’t put off the Holy Spirit’s conviction in your heart, listen to His pleading and give it all to Him, He is waiting and He loves you so much, this “Altogether Lovely One.”

In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon

MY STONE OF REMEMBRANCE

As we continued on our journey, it was a time of memories, a time to reflect on our fifty years of marriage and what God has done in our lives.  Do you have “Stones of Remembrance?”  Those are the places where God has met you on your journey.  I shall tell you of one “Stone of Remembrance that has been precious in our life as we have walked with Him and depended upon Him for help and strength in times of trials.

It could be a place where God answered prayer in a particular way.  It would be a place where God rescued you out of a storm in your life.  It may have been a storm where it was so dark you couldn’t see your way ahead, and God met you there and brought great peace to your soul.  There are many “Stones of Remembrance” we could recall in our walk with the Lord and our journey toward our heavenly home, but this “Stone” is one of “Help.”

We were so young when we started our journey in life together.  And then the children came, and sometimes we did walk through stormy places, but God was always there to meet us.  One of the “Stones of Remembrance” that I recall is when our second daughter was born, and how God answered prayer. 

The delivery was complicated and we nearly lost our precious baby, but there was a pastor friend on his knees in the early morning hours praying for our baby, and we took her home from the hospital in two days.  There were many times when our young family had financial needs, and our God always intervened in marvelous ways.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the LORD has helped us” I Samuel 7:12.

This was the time when Samuel was the Judge in Israel, and Israel had just defeated the Philistines, with God’s help, and Samuel set this stone up to help them remember what God had done.  And we can also set up a “Stone of Ebenezer” and remember how the Lord has fought the battles for us all down through the years.

No matter where we have been in life, or where we are at the present, God is always there and has never left our side.  No matter what the age, down through the generations and years of time, God is and has always been there.  He has always been the help for His people

He is the God of today, the God of whatever experience you are going through right now.  In our fifty years of marriage, He was always there, even when at times we drifted from Him, but His arms were open and ready to receive us as we ran back into His arms.

I am reminded of Moses and the burning bush: And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”  And He said, “Thus shall you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” Exodus 2:14.

And Jesus in the Temple facing the Jews declares in John 8:58: Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  Jesus was the God of the burning bush! 

 So as we look back over our “Stone of Remembrance” we remember “I AM!”  He was the God of that very hour, God of that very day.  He is the God of yesterday, today and forever, but He is the God of “Right Now!” He is the very “Rock” upon which we build our faith.

 There is a wonderful hymn that has become very dear to me.  And it is the second verse of “Come Thou Fount” which reminds us of this “Stone of Help.”

“Here I raise mine Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’m come; and I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.  Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.”  (Robert Robertson)

So my friends, is He your “Stone of Help?”  If you are wandering from the fold of God right now, He is waiting to receive you into His fold.  He shed His precious blood for you, to bring you into His eternal home.  Call upon Him now, time is so short.  We see the world falling apart all around us, and Jesus is coming soon.  Don’t miss Him, please?  Just bow right now, right where you are and asked Jesus to come into your heart, to wash away your sin, make you a new creation in Him.  And He will bring you joy and peace whatever you may be going through right now.  He wants to be your “Stone of Help.”

Then I would encourage you, my friend, to find a good Bible believing church, and a pastor who can share more with you about the love of Jesus and encourage you in the Word.  And there you will find fellowship with other believers and can grow in Christ.  I pray that many of you out there will be encouraged to seek the Lord for whatever needs you may have, and may God bless you and be your “Ebenezer”, your “Stone of Help.”

 In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

FINDING GOD IN A

DRY PLACE

I have again been on a journey.  This journey showed me many things that reminded me of my journey and your journey as we travel on this road of life, looking forward to our Heavenly Home.

As we traveled south and on into California, we encountered miles and miles of desert, sage brush and dry places.  We observed the surrounding hillsides, devoid of any green shrubs or evidence of water. We also traveled thru the great Mohave Desert with its cactus and dry stream beds.   We traveled miles and miles between rest stops.

Then up ahead would be an “oasis” of green trees, a place of rest, a place to stop and be refreshed, as we continued on in our journey across the desert.  As we neared our first destination, my home town, we saw more desert and miles and miles of absolute desolation.

This latest journey was one of dry places, one of renewal, one of memories, and one of fellowship with family and friends.  We also saw places and people who need Jesus, who are lost eternally unless they encounter the Lord Jesus Christ.  I experienced heart breaking moments of realizing how much this nation needs a great revival.  My heart broke over the darkness of sin.  Who is going to tell them of Jesus?  Who is going to pray and intercede for the lost?  Are we doing that?  Or are we just going about our own lives, unmindful of the places of sin and darkness?  I asked myself what I was doing for God’s kingdom to win the lost.

This nation is truly a thirsty land, and we are a thirsty people.  We have all the “things” our hearts could desire, but these “things” do not satisfy our souls.  People are wandering in the deserts of sin and heartbreak, of loneliness and despair.

“They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in.  Hungry and thirsty, they soul fainted in them.  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.  And He delivered them out of their distresses.  And He led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” Psalm 107:4-9.

The Psalmist here is reminding us of the journey of the Children of Israel through the wilderness, and it is a picture of people today, wandering in the wilderness of despair.  They are lost without direction, wandering in a dry place, desolate, souls hungry and thirsty for the Living God.  Are you wandering in a desert place right now, my friends?  Maybe you have known the Lord, walked in the green pastures with your Shepherd, but you wandered away into the desert of despair, and you are like the Children of Israel, your soul is fainting within you.

But when they were lost in despair, they cried out to the LORD in the midst of their trouble, and our Wonderful Lord delivered them out of their distresses.  And if you are lost and wandering today, cry out to Him in your trouble, and He will set you on the right path, and lead you to the eternal city for your eternal dwelling place, Praise the Lord!

And then the Psalmist desires that men would then give thanks for the LORD for their deliverance and all the blessings that He desires to pour out upon them, and He wants to fill your hungry and thirsty soul with peace and joy.

“The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes” Isaiah 35:7.

And what happens to a dry and thirsty land when water is brought in, especially by irrigation?  Green grass begins to spring up, flowers bloom, the desert will literally “blossom like a rose.” The parched land becomes green and lush and bears much fruit, so with us when we encounter the Living Lord, the Lord who walks with us through all our desert places.

“On that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Yes, in the midst of your desert place, in the midst of your parched soul, in the midst of your thirst, in the midst of your restless heart, hear the words of the Lord Jesus.  He is the Living Bread, He is the Living Water.  He is the One who will bring joy and refreshment to your parched soul.  And your desert will indeed blossom like a rose, your life will again bear fruit and you will experience such peace and joy, the like of which you have never experienced.

Call out to Him my friend, He is waiting for you.  He died for you, to give you eternal life with Him forever.  If only we could reach the lost in those places of darkness and despair and tell them about Jesus.  Jesus is the only answer to this world and its darkness and despair.  You believers out there, won’t you join me in prayer for the lost, for the dying?  Jesus wants to bring light into the dark places of this world, into the lonely and darkened hearts of people everywhere.  He is waiting and watching and not willing that any should perish.

I will be bring more of my journey in my next blog, a blog regarding “stones of remembrance”, those places along our path that we stop and reflect on the memories of those places, the blessings of those places, and sometimes there are places where times were hard, but our God was always there along our path, Praise the Lord!

In Christ’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

OH, LORD, HOW LONG

MUST WE WAIT!

As I look around my city, my nation and my world, I see violence everywhere.  It seems that nothing is right in the world anymore.  We see the economy failing and people losing everything.  And people, even God’s people, are losing hope.  They are longing for peace and there is no peace.  Their hearts are troubled and in despair.   People are asking God, “Why don’t you do something?”

Then we can go to God’s Word and find hope and encouragement to go on.  For we find there that our God is still in control, and He is not unmindful of the hurts and despair that you and I have to go through here.  And it is only in God’s Word and through salvation in Jesus Christ that mankind has any hope at all.  And God’s people have a wonderful hope for the future.  We know the end, as we have read the end of the Book.  Praise the Lord!  Sometimes, even though we know that, it is still hard to see through our tears and sorrow, and through the storms that come into our lives.

So as we look to God’s Word, we go to the Old Testament and we find the Prophet Habakkuk crying out against the evils of his day, and like many of us today, he was wandering why God was not doing anything about the present situation in his world.

The people of Judah were in deep sin, worshipping idols and had forsaken the God who had loved them and brought them up out of Egypt and provided for them.  And he wondered why God was not punishing them for their sin.  He asked why a just God would allow such sin.  But we see that God was going to punish Judah by allowing the Babylonians to come in and destroy them and take them captive.  But when Habakkuk cried out to God, God promised hope.

“This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received from the LORD in a vision.  How long, O LORD, must I call for help?  But you do not listen!  “Violence!”  I cry, but you do not come to save.  Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me?  Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.  I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.  The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts.  The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery” Habakkuk 1:1-4. (NLT)

Habakkuk was saddened by the violence and evil he saw all around him, and he poured out His heart to God.  And today evil and injustice are also rampant, but we must not let our concern cause us to doubt God and His purposes. When we see the message that God gave Habakkuk, we will realize that God has long-range plans and purposes, and God is on the Throne and in control even when we do not understand why He works as he does.

But look at God’s answer:  “Look among the nations and watch – be utterly astounded!  For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (vs.5).

God told the prophet to watch and see the amazing things He was going to do.  But again, He is in control and He will judge evil doers in His time.  He is doing mighty things in our world today.  The Holy Spirit is moving and countless numbers are coming to accept Jesus as their Savior.  We think things should be going our way but remember that God is not willing that any should perish. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”  II Peter 3:9.

At the beginning of chapter 2, Habakkuk says he will set himself to watch and see what God will do. (vs. 2:1).

 Listen to God’s answer:  “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.  Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (vs. 3)

God’s answer to Habakkuk is the same answer He would give us today.  He tells us to just be patient!  It helps us to remember that God hates sin even more than we do.  God’s punishing of sin will surely come.  As He told the prophet, “Wait for it.”  To trust God totally means to trust Him even when we don’t understand why certain events happen as they do.

“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” (vs. 4).

This verse has inspired countless Christians down through the ages.  Paul quotes it in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11.  The write of Hebrews quotes it in 10:38 and just before that marvelous chapter 11 on faith.  And it reminds all of God’s people who must live through hard times, without seeing any signs of hope.  We must simply trust in God, put our total faith in Him, that He is working out all things according to His purposes.

And then in chapter 3, after we read the wonderful prayer of Habakkuk, and he praises God for answering his questions.  And we can read this wonderful  hymn of praise to the LORD his God, describing God’s glory and His majesty.  I would advise you to read this wonderful prayer in thanks to God for His mercy and His mighty power.

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. (vs. 17-19).

Though we may lose everything we hold dear to our hearts, the prophet is saying that God will give His people surefooted confidences through these difficult times.  We can run like deer across rough and dangerous places.  And at the right time, God’s time, He will bring about His justice and completely ride the world of evil.  In the meantime, we, God’s people, are encouraged to live in the strength of His Holy Spirit, and to keep our eyes on Jesus, as we look for our “blessed hope,” and in the day when there will be peace and joy forever.  Praise His Holy Name!

In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon